Philadelphia Union Returns to Clearwater for Preseason Training

CLEARWATER – This city will host the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer team for the third consecutive preseason training session.

Union players and coaches will train from Tuesday (Jan. 31) through Feb. 10 before taking a short break Feb. 11-13. The team will return to Clearwater to continue training and compete in the Tampa Bay Rowdies Suncoast Invitational from Feb. 14-26. Most of the club’s training will take place at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, 2450 Drew St.

Philadelphia was awarded the 16th Major League Soccer franchise on Feb. 28, 2008, and the Union were officially named on May 11, 2009. Owned and operated by Keystone Sports and Entertainment, the group launched the Philadelphia Union’s inaugural season on March 25, 2010, and opened Talen Energy Stadium on June 27. Throughout the club’s history, the Union have reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final in 2014 and 2015, and have also reached the MLS playoffs in 2011 and 2016. In 2017, Philadelphia Union will celebrate eight years of top-flight action at Talen Energy Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium that has hosted internationally known clubs Celtic, Chivas de Guadalajara, Everton, Schalke 04, Aston Villa, Pumas UNAM, Stoke City, Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth.

The Union will show off their skills against other MLS teams in the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational tournament on Feb. 18, 22 and 25. Teams participating will include the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League as well as the Union, Toronto FC, Chicago Fire, D.C. United and Montreal Impact from Major League Soccer. Matches will take place at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg and the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater.